• Officer Support

  DEERS ENROLLMENT/ID CARD ISSUANCE INFORMATION

  NOTE: These instructions are meant EXCLUSIVELY for members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHS) only. All other Service members should contact their service specific DEERS/RAPIDS project office or the local service specific. DEERS/RAPIDS ID card office for further guidance. Non-PHS requests will not be answered.

  Overview: Tips and General Enrollment information:

  Dependents:

  Dependents are NOT automatically enrolled in DEERS. You must visit an ID card office in person to enroll your dependents into DEERS. You must present

  the following documents:

  • Photo identification (driver's license or passport) is required in addition to the documentation listed below in all instances (except for children under 20 years of age) Documents must be originals or certified true copies:
  • Spouse: Marriage License, social security card, and birth certificate.
  • Newborn: Birth certificate or certificate of live birth from the hospital and social security card (if available) or letter from the Social Security Administration showing the social security number. If the social security card is not available, the child will be enrolled with a system-generated Temporary ID Number (TIN) and the social security card must be presented to DEERS/RAPIDS within 90 days or TRICARE benefits will be suspended. Sponsors are encouraged to contact the Social Security Administration or call 1-800-772-1213 to request a new or duplicate Social Security Card.
  • Child/ Stepchild/adopted: birth certificate and social security card and applicable legal paperwork

    Note: For a Child Aged 21-23

    • Must be full-time students. Birth certificate, social security card, photo ID, and a letter from the college or university registrar's office stating 1) that the child is a fulltime student and 2) the expected date of graduation.
    • The child must be unmarried and dependent on the sponsor for at least 51% of his or her support.

  
  

  To qualify as an incapacitated child, the child must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Be unmarried.
  • Incapable of self-support because of a mental or physical incapacity that existed before the child's 21st birthday or 23rd if enrolled as a fulltime student; and
  • Dependent on the sponsor for over one-half at least (51%) of his or her support or had been at the time of the sponsor's death.

  The incapacitated child determination is a two-part process. First, Medical Affairs must review the child's medical record to determine if the child is incapable of self-support and to determine if the condition is temporary or permanent. Second, the PHS DEERS Project Office must review the DD form 137-5, to determine if the child is dependent on the sponsor for over 50% of his/her support.

  Medical Affairs requires the following:

  1. A physician statement describing:
     • Each dependent's diagnosis,
     • Past and present treatment for each diagnosis
     • Prognosis for each diagnosed condition, and
     • Whether the dependent will ever be able to live independently in spite of the condition(s).
  2. This statement must be sent directly from the physician, not the dependent's parents. The physician must specialize in the medical area pertaining to the dependent's specified condition (e.g., apsychiatrist for any mental health condition; a neurologist for a paralyzed dependent; etc.). Instructions to PHS Officers Regarding DEERS Enrollment.
  3. A copy of medical records which would pertain to the specified condition, extending over the most recent three (3) years at minimum, sent directly to Medical Affairs from the healthcare facility (notfrom the dependent's parents).
  4. School transcripts sent directly from the most recent school matriculated.
  5. A brief narrative sent by the parents describing the daily activities performed by the dependent.

  These documents serve as the basis upon which a medical recommendation may be made and have been identified as the minimum data needed for the medical review according to TRICARE. However, additional documentation and/or evaluation(s) may also be requested by Medical Affairs personnel during the review of the dependent's package.

  The complete package should be mailed to Medical Affairs at the following address (depending on method of delivery):

  Mailing Address (for US Postal Service):

  Division of Commissioned Corps Personnel and Readiness

  Medical Affairs (DCCPR/MAB)

  ATTN: Medical Evaluations Officer

  5600 Fishers Lane, Room 4C-04

  Rockville, MD 20857

  Address for Fed-Ex/UPS Courier Delivers:

  Division of Commissioned Corps Personnel and Readiness

  Medical Affairs (DCCPR/MAB)

  ATTN: Medical Evaluations Officer

  1101 Wootton Parkway, Plaza Level, Suite 300

  Rockville, MD 20852

  For questions related to your PHS Commissioned Corps Education Benefits, please email: phsdeersgibill@hhs.gov

  Resources:
  ID Cards/DEERS Enrollment

  The PHS DEERS Project Office requires the following forms:

  1. Form PHS-1637-1, "Public Health Service Commissioned Officer's Request for Dependency Determination;"
  2. DD Form 137-5, "Dependency Statement - Incapacitated Child Over Age 21;" and
  3. DD Form 1172-2, "Application for Identification Card/DEERS Enrollment." (See "Request for DD 1172-2 below")
  4. The child's proof of income.
  5. A copy of the first page of the tax return to show who claims the child, or the child's own tax return.
  6. Supporting documentation for ALL claimed expenses; and
  7. A copy of the brief narrative (provided to the MA) from the parents describing the daily activities performed by the dependent.

  The complete package should be mailed to this office at the following address:

  Division of Commissioned Corps Personnel and Readiness

  ATTN: DEERS

  1101 Wootton Parkway, Plaza Level, Suite 300

  Rockville, MD 20852

  Instructions to PHS Officers Regarding DEERS Enrollment

  Request for DD Form 1172-2

  Please follow the guidance below to review and print a copy of your DD Form 1172-2.

  1. Log into ID Card Office Online using your CAC (military ID) and your 6-to-8-digit PIN
  2. Click on Print Family List.
  3. Select the appropriate family member (s)
  4. Click proceed
  5. Acknowledge the Privacy Act Statement
  6. Click proceed
  7. Review the confirmation section
  8. Click Display Form to display and print form

  The DD Form 1172-2 will list your dependent and the current address.

  There is no annual recertification for DEERS. Once enrolled, children remain in DEERS through their 21st birthday (or through age 23 for fulltime students) and you must provide a divorce decree to disenroll a spouse. You may review your DEERS dependents in the "My Profile" section in ID Card Office Online (IDCO). If necessary, address changes can be made in IDCO, also under the "My Profile" section. All other changes must be made at your local DEERS ID Card Office, check the "Appointment Locator" section for an ID card office near you. You must log into IDCO using your CAC (Military ID) and your 6-to-8-digit PIN number.

  
  

  DEPENDENT PARENTS REQUEST:

  NOTE: These instructions are meant EXCLUSIVELY for members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHS) only. All other Service members should contact their service specific DEERS/RAPIDS project office or the local service specific DEERS/RAPIDS ID card office for further guidance. Non-PHS requests will not be answered.

  If you are applying for enrollment or an ID card for a dependent parent, you must complete and return the following forms which are available at the Commissioned Corps Management Information System (CCMIS) Website, under Payroll Forms (PHS-1637-1 and DD Form 137-3) and Links to Frequently Asked Non-PHS Forms (DD Form 1172-2).

  1. Form PHS-1637-1, "Public Health Service Commissioned Officer's Request for Dependency Determination;"
  2. DD Form 137-3, "Dependency Statement - Parent" (View instructions for DD Form 137-3); and
  3. DD Form 1172-2, "Application for Uniformed Services Identification Card/DEERS Enrollment."
  4. Parent's proof of income.
  5. A copy of the parent's tax return; and
  6. Supporting documentation for ALL claimed expenses.

  You must complete the request and your parent must complete the dependent statement. Please ensure that all items on the parent's statement are completed and that the form is notarized before returning it to this office. To qualify as a dependent, the parent must meet the following four eligibility requirements:

  1. The parent's monthly income, not counting the member's contribution, must be less than one-half the parent's monthly living expenses; and
  2. The member's contribution must be more than one-half (50%) of the parent's monthly living expenses;
  3. The member's contribution must be more than the parent's income from all sources;
  4. The parent must reside in the sponsor's household, or a household maintained for or by the sponsor.

  You have the burden of proving that your parent is a bona fide dependent. This is accomplished by providing documentation of your parent’s expenses (i.e., copies of receipts) and by documenting your contributions (e.g., copies of canceled checks/money orders made payable to your parent and/or specifically state they were written to pay for expenses incurred by your parent). Stating that you gave cash is not acceptable in determining the amount you contributed to his/her support.

  You should also document (where applicable) the method used to determine fair rental value of that portion of your home that your parent occupies. Poor record keeping, by either you or yours may be reason for your dependency request to be disapproved. Incomplete packets without supporting documentation will be returned to the sponsor without action.

  The complete package should be mailed to this office at the following address:
  Division of Commissioned Corps Personnel and Readiness
  ATTN: DEERS
  1101 Wootton Parkway, Plaza Level, Suite 300
  Rockville, MD 20852

  PHS commissioned officers may forward any questions to the PHS DEERS Project Office via email at phsdeersgibill@hhs.gov

  NOTE: These instructions are meant EXCLUSIVELY for members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHS) only. All other Service members should contact their service specific DEERS/RAPIDS project office or the local service specific DEERS/RAPIDS ID card office for further guidance. Non-PHS requests will not be answered.
  Service specific points-of-contact:

  Legal Custody Ward in DEERS

  To enroll your legal ward in DEERS you will need to have legal custody of your family member in order to enroll the individual in DEERS. DEERS refers to this status as a Legal Custody Ward.

  Here are the requirements:

  An unmarried child, including a foster child or a child to whom a managing conservator has been designated, who has been placed in legal custody of a member or former member as a result of an order of a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States (or a territory or possession of the United States) for at least 12 consecutive months may be eligible for full ID card benefits and privileges if the:

  1. Child is dependent on the member or former member for over one-half of his or her support, and
  2. Child resides with the member or former member unless separated by the necessity of military service or to receive institutional care as a result of disability or incapacitation, and
  3. Child is not a dependent of a member or former member under any other category.

  If you decide to move forward with adding the grandchildren as legal custody wards, you will need to provide the following:

  1. The court order and a
  2. DD Form 1172-2.
     • You must certify in block 21 that you are providing over 50 percent of the children’s support and that the children reside in the household or household maintained by you (the sponsor) and
     • Your signature on the form must be notarized.

  The original or certified true documents must be mailed to:

  Division of Commissioned Corps Personnel and Readiness
  ATTN: DEERS Project Office
  1101 Wootton Parkway, Plaza Level, Suite 300
  Rockville, MD 20852

  Please let me know if you have further questions.

  
  

  Name Change Instructions

  Please see instructions below for submitting your Name Change Request:

  1. Submit a Name Change Request Memo to the Assignments Team and state the reason why you are requesting a name change, i.e.,
     • Marriage
     • Divorce
     • Court Order
     Please include your PHS# in your memo
  2. The memo must reflect the name change;
     • FROM the old name (First, middle, last)
     • TO the new name (First, middle last)
     This is how your new name will appear on your personnel orders, Commissioned Corps Personnel Systems, and DEERS.
  3. Along with the memo you must submit the following identity documents to show that your name has been changed legally:
     • Copy new social security card, and
     • Copy new driver’s license
  4. The name change request memo and identity document may be scanned and emailed to the commissioned corps mailbox at PHSCCAssignments@hhs.gov

  DEERS process for Common Access Card (CAC) issuance (Military ID Card)

  Once you have received your Name Change Personnel Order our system should update DEERS on or about the 1 st of the following month. This could be closer to six weeks if the order is processed near the end of the month. Before traveling to your local ID card office to get your new (CAC) ID card we suggest you check the My Profile tab in ID Card Office Online (IDCO) to ensure that the update has occurred.

  1. Log into ID Card Office Online with your 6-to-8-digit PIN. You created this PIN during CAC issuance. If you don’t remember your PIN, you will need to visit your local ID card office to request a PIN reset. The IDCO link is https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/
  2. If the new name is not reflected in IDCO you should contact the PHS DEERS Project Office at PHSDEERSGIBILL@hhs.gov. Please include your PHS# in your email.

  Retiree Name Change

  Please see instructions below for submitting your Name Change Request:

  1. Submit a Name Change/Correction Request Memo to the PHS DEERS Project Office and state the reason why you are requesting a name change, i.e.,
     • Marriage
     • Divorce
     • Court Order
     • Minor correction (spelling correction)
     Please include your DoD ID# (on the back of your ID Card) in your memo
  2. The memo must reflect the name change;
     • FROM the old name (First, middle, last)
     • TO the new name (First, middle last)
     This is how your new name will appear with USCG Retired Pay and DEERS.
  3. Along with the memo you must submit the following identity documents to show that your name has been changed legally:
     • Copy new social security card, and
     • Copy new driver’s license

  USCG Retired Pay processes the name changes for PHS retirees. We will forward your name change request packet to the retired pay office and notify you when the action is complete. Let us know if there are any questions.

  SERVICE SPECIFIC POINTS-OF-CONTACT:

  Branch of Service Contact Information

  Air Force: Air Force Personnel Center

  HQ AFPC/DPSFR

  550 C Street W., Suite 37

  Randolph AFB, TX 78150-4739

  Toll Free phone: (800) 525-0102

  Army: Army Project Office

  ATTN: AHRC-PDP-P

  1600 Spearhead Division Avenue

  Dept. 480

  Fort Knox, NY 40122-5408

  Toll Free phone: (888) 276-9472

  Coast Guard: USCG, Personnel Service Center

  4200 Wilson Blvd Suite 1100

  Arlington, VA 20598-7200

  Marine Corps: Marine Corps Personnel Project Office

  3280 Russell Road

  Code MRP1

  Quantico, VA 22134

  Navy: Navy Personnel Command (NPC)

  BUPERS 26

  5720 Integrity Drive

  Millington, TN 30855-3320

  Toll Free phone: (866) 827-5672

  DSN: 882-3462

  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

  NOAA 1315 East West Highway

  SSMC #3 Room 12100

  Silver Spring, MD 20910

  
  

  Last Updated on 08/26/2025

  
  
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